Soviet Polikarpov I-16 Rata fighter

Photos

Polikarpov I-16 fighter2:	Polikarpov I-16 fighter:	Polikarpov I-16 fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook	Polikarpov I-16 fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Polikarpov I-16C Super Rata fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook	Polikarpov I-16C Super Rata fighter: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Polikarpov I-16 fighter:	Polikarpov I-16 fighter:

Design

Nikolai Polikarpov started to design the successor to the I-15 while in a labor camp.^1,3 The Polikarpov I-16 was a rival to the ANT-31.¹

When the I-16 first was produced it was the first low wing cantilever monoplane with a retractable undercarriage used by any military in the world.^1,2,3

The I-16 was nicknamed the Rata (rat) by the Spanish Nationalists.^2,3

Construction

Wood and metal made up the construction of the I-16.^2,3

Cockpit

The cockpit was very narrow and open.¹

Engines

The early Polikarpov I-16s had Wright Cyclone radial engines that were imported and license built.¹ These drove a two pitch Hamilton propellar.¹

After the I-16 Type 6 the engines were the M-25A.¹

Late I-16s had M-62 or M-63 engines with superchargers.¹

Undercarriage

The undercarriage required 44 hand cranks to raise them.¹ As each crank went it got harder to rotate the handle.¹ Sometimes the gear jammed half way when lowered.¹

In winter the wheels would be replaced by skis that could retract flat against the wings.¹

Prototype

The TsKB-12 prototype first flew on December 31, 1933.^2,3 The prototype had a Soviet M-22 engine.^1,2 The second prototype had an imported Wright Cyclone engine installed.²

Production

Deliveries of the I-16 began in early 1935.² Production originally ended in 1940 but was restarted in 1941.²

• Polikarpov I-16 single seat: 7,005²
  • Polikarpov I-16 Type 27 and Polikarpov I-16 Type 29: ~450²
• Polikarpov I-16UTI: 1,639²
• Total: >8,000¹, 8,644², ~20,000³
  • Manufacturer: State Industries³

Variants

• Polikarpov TsKB-12: Prototype.² Had Bristol Jupiter engine (450 HP).³
• Polikarpov I-16:
• Polikarpov I-16 Type 5 SPB: Was used as a dive bomber that had special dive brakes.¹
• Polikarpov I-16 Type 6: M-25A engines.¹
• Polikarpov I-16 Type 17: Two ShKAS machine guns and two ShVAK cannons.¹ First version to fire RS-82 rockets.¹ Saw combat against the Japanese in August 1939.¹
• Polikarpov I-16 Type 18: Produced starting in 1938.² Had M-62 engine with two speed supercharger.²
• Polikarpov I-16 Type 24: Had M-63 direct geared engine.²
• Polikarpov I-16 Type 27: Produced during second production run from 1941 to 1942.²
• Polikarpov I-16 Type 29: Produced during second production run from 1941 to 1942.²
• Polikarpov I-16P: One was built with four powerful cannons.¹
• Polikarpov I-16UTI: Tandem two seat trainer.²

Usage

China, Finland, Spain, and the Soviet Union used the Polikarpov I-16.^2,3

Debut

The debut of the I-16 was at the May Day parade in Moscow in 1935.³

Spanish Civil War

278 I-16s were used by the Spanish Republican forces.^1,2 The I-16/6 was the first model to be used in combat in November 1936.³ Hispano-Suiza also license built I-16s.¹

Was known as Mukha (fly) in Spain.¹

Against Japan

In 1939 the I-16 fought against the Japanese on the Manchurian border.^1,2,3

Soviet ace, Grigori Ravchenko shot down three Japanese aircraft in China and led an I-16 unit in Mongolia.¹

Finland

Finland used captured I-16s.¹

Invasion of Soviet Union

When the Germans invaded in June 1941 the I-16 was the most numerous fighter in the Soviet arsenal.¹ Approximately 2/3 of the fighter force were I-16s.²

Some I-16s remained in service until the summer of 1943 when it was finally withdrawn due to its obsolesence.^1,2,3

Specifications